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Credit unions offer balance transfer credit cards that can help you save money on interest rates. These cards often have lower introductory APRs, such as 6.99% for 12 months, which can be a significant advantage over traditional credit cards.
By transferring your existing credit card balance to a credit union balance transfer credit card, you can potentially save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest payments. For example, if you have a $5,000 balance with an 18% APR, switching to a 6.99% APR card could save you over $700 in interest over the first year.
Some credit unions also offer 0% APR promotions for balance transfers, which can provide even more savings opportunities. However, be aware that these promotions usually come with a balance transfer fee, which can range from 3% to 5% of the transferred amount.
To take advantage of these savings, be sure to read the fine print and understand the terms and conditions of your credit union balance transfer credit card.
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What is a Credit Union Balance Transfer Credit Card?
A credit union balance transfer credit card is essentially a smart way to save money on interest by moving the balance of one or multiple credit cards or other loans to a new or existing credit card account.
It's a great way to consolidate payments and pay off credit card debt sooner, just like a regular balance transfer.
How it Works
You can initiate the balance transfer process by opening a new credit card or utilizing your existing credit union membership.
Our team will guide you through the process, which may involve opening a new credit card or using your existing credit union membership.
To complete the balance transfer, you'll need to enter the balance transfer information and click next, allowing you to add additional transfers or submit the process.
ACH payments to large merchants or financial institutions can take 3-5 business days to transfer, while payments by check may take 7-10 business days to issue, with an additional 7-10 business days for mailing.
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Requesting and Managing a Credit Union Balance Transfer Credit Card
Requesting a balance transfer is a straightforward process. You can fill out our online form, call us, schedule an appointment, or stop by a local member center to get started.
To begin, you'll need to gather some information. This includes the name and payment address of the other creditor or financial institution, your account number at that institution, and the amount you want to transfer.
If you're unsure about what balances to transfer from which cards, we'd be happy to help you decide.
Once you've gathered this information, you can enter it into our system and click "Next" to proceed. You can also add additional transfers or submit your request to process.
ACH payments, which are used for large merchants or financial institutions, typically take 3-5 business days to transfer. Checks, on the other hand, can take 7-10 business days to issue and an additional 7-10 business days for mailing.
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Here's a quick rundown of what you'll need for your balance transfer:
- Name and payment address of the other creditor or financial institution (Excite Credit Union Accounts are excluded)
- Your account number at that financial institution
- The amount to transfer
After submitting your request, you can track the status of your balance transfer. Keep in mind that ACH payments will transfer within 3-5 business days, while checks may take longer.
Benefits and Savings
A balance transfer can be a smart move to save money and pay off debt faster. You can transfer your credit card balances to a low-rate DuPage Credit Union credit card and save money on interest charges.
Paying less interest is a significant benefit of balance transfers. With lower interest or no interest payments, you'll be able to pay off your balances more quickly. This can be especially helpful if you have high-interest credit cards with balances that are difficult to pay off.
You can also consolidate payments by bringing over balances from multiple credit cards to a single low-rate DuPage Credit Union credit card. This simplifies your life with one low monthly payment and one due date.
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Here are some specific benefits of balance transfers:
- Paying down debt faster with lower interest or no interest payments
- Paying less interest by transferring balances to a low-rate credit card
- Consolidating payments with one low monthly payment and one due date
Some DuPage Credit Union credit cards offer 0% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers, such as the Imagine Rewards and Thrive credit cards. After that, a variable APR applies based on your creditworthiness.
Fees and Interest
When it comes to understanding the fees and interest associated with credit union balance transfer credit cards, it's essential to know that promotional interest rates can be applied to balance transfers.
The promotional interest rate will be charged on balance transfers starting from the transaction posting date. This rate will remain effective for 6 months following the posting date.
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Will I Pay Fees?
Advantis does not charge a fee for balance transfers, which can be a huge advantage for those looking to consolidate debt.
It's always a good idea to check with your credit card provider to see if they have any transfer fees, but in this case, it's a fee-free zone.
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When Will Interest Be Applied?
Interest can be applied at different times, depending on the offer. For example, promotional interest rates on balance transfers can start being charged on the transaction posting date.
This rate will be effective for 6 months following the posting date, so it's essential to keep track of the posting date to know when the promotional rate ends.
Impact on Credit Score
Having a higher credit limit is generally a good thing, as it decreases your overall credit usage and increases your available revolving credit, which can be beneficial to your credit score.
Applying for a new credit card will result in a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can lower your score temporarily. Adding a new card will also affect your overall length of credit history, which could also temporarily lower your score.
A new card can increase your overall credit limit, which is beneficial to your credit score. However, if you open a new card, you may lower your average credit age, which can negatively affect your score.
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You may see a positive impact on your credit score if you transfer your balance to a single new card and take action to reduce your debt balances. This is because a new card with a new line of credit can reduce your overall credit utilization, positively impacting your score.
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Get Help
If you're struggling with high interest rates on your existing credit cards or loans, DuPage Credit Union can help. No fee is charged for eligible balance transfers during a limited-time offer from January 1, 2025 to February 27, 2025.
You can transfer balances from a wide range of lenders, including credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, home equity loans, gas cards, and retail or department store cards. Just check your most recent credit card or loan statement for the payment mailing address on each account you're requesting to be transferred.
The new credit card offers a 0% intro APR for 12 months on all net purchases, excluding cash advances, posted within the first 90 days of account opening. After that, a variable APR of 18.99% to 26.99% applies, based on your creditworthiness.
FAQs
Balance transfer credit cards from credit unions can be a game-changer for those with high-interest debt.
Most balance transfers are processed between 7 to 10 days, but it's best to make a payment to the original card to be safe.
If you're considering a balance transfer, make sure to pay off the balance quickly to avoid additional interest charges.
Too many balance transfers can make it appear to creditors that you're not serious about paying off your debt.
The intro APR on balance transfers can be as low as 1.99% with a credit union credit card, but this rate is only valid for a limited time.
Balance transfers must be completed by March 31, 2025, to qualify for the promotional rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do credit unions offer balance transfer credit cards?
Yes, some credit unions offer balance transfer credit cards that can help you consolidate high-interest debt and save on interest. Check with your local credit union to see if they offer this option.
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